However, after such tragedies as the attacks of September 1. Hurricane Katrina, the need for such a plan is apparent. Know what kinds of emergencies might affect your company both internally and externally. Find out which natural disasters are most common in the areas where you operate. You may be aware of some of your community's risks; others may surprise you. Crises can be very specific to an individual company - - a fire, a crime, a product recall, or a health crisis, for example. Or, the crisis can involve a neighborhood, industry or region.
The following recommendations for emergency planning is provided by the U.
A small business owner. Emergency Preparedness Checklist for Small Businesses 3. Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan. The Department Name emergency plan is the. Sample Business Emergency Plan. Business Emergency Plan. Business Emergency Plan template for business continuity during a crisis. Small Business Disaster Preparedness Guide. Gives step-by-step advice on how to create and maintain a comprehensive emergency management plan. BUSINESS EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS PLAN. Inform your employees of the business emergency plan. Managing Response Operations.
S. Department of Homeland Security which provides a wide array of information and resources for helping businesses plan for emergencies at the website.
1. Two- way communication is central before, during and after a disaster. Include telephone numbers or Internet passwords for easy reference.
Talk to co- workers with disabilities. If you have employees with disabilities ask about what assistance is needed.
People with disabilities typically know what assistance they will need in an emergency. This is particularly important if someone needs to be lifted or carried. Frequently review and practice what you intend to do during and after an emergency with drills and exercises. Start planning now to improve the likelihood that your company will survive and recover.
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Carefully assess how your company functions, both internally and externally, to determine which staff, materials, procedures and equipment are absolutely necessary to keep the business operating. Include at least one person who is not at the company headquarters, if applicable. Identify your suppliers, shippers, resources and other businesses you must interact with on a daily basis. A disaster that shuts down a key supplier can be devastating to your business. Keep this list with other important documents on file, in your emergency supply kit and at an off- site location.
Plan what you will do if your building, plant or store is not accessible. This type of planning is often referred to as a continuity of operations plan, or COOP, and includes all facets of your business. Plan for payroll continuity.
5. Decide who should participate in putting together your emergency plan.
These will likely include people with technical skills as well as managers and executives. Define crisis management procedures and individual responsibilities in advance. Coordinate with others. Review your emergency plans annually. Just as your business changes over time, so do your preparedness needs.
When you hire new employees or when there are changes in how your company functions, you should update your plans and inform your people. Encourage everyone to have a Portable Kit customized to meet personal needs, such as essential medications.
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NOAA weather radio. With tone- alert feature, if possible, that automatically alerts you when a watch or warning is issued in your area.
EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLAN USC School Of Dentistry DATE UPDATED: Feburary 18, 2005. TABLE OF CONTENTS USC SCHOOL OF DENTISTRY EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLAN. The free wiki sourcebook of small business. Guide to Small business emergency planning is a collaborative. Small Business Resources; Spanish. These Emergency Preparedness and Response pages provide information on how to prepare and train for emergencies and the.
Tone- alert is not available in some areas. The NOAA weather radio can alert you to weather emergencies or announcements from the Department of Homeland Security. The commercial radio is a good source for news and information from local authorities.
2. Keep copies of important records such as site maps, building plans, insurance policies, employee contact and identification information, bank account records, supplier and shipping contact lists, computer backups, emergency or law enforcement contact information and other priority documents in a waterproof, fireproof portable container. Store a second set of records at an off- site location.
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Talk to your co- workers about what emergency supplies the company can feasibly provide, if any, and which ones individuals should consider keeping on hand. Individuals should determine what amount they are able to both store comfortably and to transport to other locations. If it is feasible, store one gallon of water per person per day, for drinking and sanitation. Food, at least a three- day supply of non- perishable food.
Battery- powered radio and extra batteries. Flashlight and extra batteries. First Aid kit.
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Whistle to signal for help. Dust or filter masks, readily available in hardware stores, which are rated based on how small a particle they filter.
Moist towelettes for sanitation. Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities. Can opener for food (if kit contains canned food). Plastic sheeting and duct tape to . Each year fires cause thousands of deaths and injuries and billions of dollars in damage. Plan how you will communicate with people with hearing impairments or other disabilities and those who do not speak English.
- Put a process in place for alerting the fire department.
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Plan and practice how people will evacuate in a fire.
Heavy equipment operators face different safety risks than do office workers or food service personnel. Regardless of the type of work, there are steps which can give you the upper hand in responding to a medical emergency. Offer on- site classes for your co- workers.
- Keep First Aid supplies in stock and easily accessible.
- Encourage employees to talk about medical conditions that may require support or special care in an emergency.
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Keep employee emergency contact information on file and up- to- date.
Store a copy with other vital records in your emergency kit and another at an off- site location. The ability to evacuate workers, customers and visitors effectively can save lives.
People who plan and practice how they will get out of the building in an emergency are better prepared than those who do not have an exit strategy.
- Identify who will shut down critical operations and lock the doors, if possible, during an evacuation. Plan to cooperate with local authorities responding in an emergency.
- Conduct employee training, exercises and drills including procedures for evacuating high- rise buildings on a regular basis.
- Plan for people with disabilities who may need help getting out in an emergency.
- If your business operates out of more than one location or has more than one place where people work, establish evacuation procedures for each individual building.
- If your company is in a high- rise building, an industrial park, or even a small strip mall, it is important to coordinate and practice with other tenants or businesses to avoid confusion and potential gridlock.
- If you rent, lease or share space with other businesses make sure the building owner and other companies are committed to coordinating and practicing evacuation procedures together.
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Make a Shelter- In- Place Plan. There are other circumstances, such as during a tornado or a chemical incident when specifically how and where you take shelter is a matter of survival. You should understand the different threats and plan for all possibilities.
If you are instructed by local authorities to take shelter, do so immediately. Here is advice from the U. S. Department of Homeland Security. If feasible, develop a system for knowing who is in your building in case there is an emergency.
2. Establish a warning system.Account for all workers, visitors and customers as people arrive in the shelter. It is important to speak with your co- workers in advance about sheltering to avoid confusion and allow for cooperation in the event you need to shelter- in- place.
Assign specific duties to employees in advance; create checklists for each specific responsibility. Designate and train employee alternates in case the assigned person is not there or is injured.
5. Get emergency supply kits and keep them in your shelter locations.
6.Practice your shelter- in- place plan on a regular basis. Storm cellars or basements provide the best protection.
2. If underground shelter is not available, go into an interior room or hallway on the lowest floor possible.
3. In a high- rise building, go to a small interior room or hallway on the lowest floor possible.
4. Stay away from windows, doors and outside walls. Go to the center of the room.Stay away from corners because they attract debris.
5. Stay in the shelter location until the danger has passed. It is a type of sheltering that requires preplanning. Here is advice on sealing a room from the U. S. Department of Homeland Security.Identify a location to . Measure and cut the sheeting in advance to save time.
However, you should watch TV, listen to the radio or check the Internet often for official news and instructions as they become available. Department of Homeland Security - Advice for evacuation planning